I have a 95 Ranger 2.3L that I got from my uncle who lives in Washington. Before I got the truck here in Texas he told me that the timing belt needs to be changed. He gave me all the service records and last time the belt was changed was at 99k miles. The truck now has 146k miles. Do I need to change it now, and how long is the normal changing interval?

After a quick check in my owner's manual, I can't find it. It think it's supposed to be every 100,000 miles but since I can't find it in the manual, I can't confirm that.

For my CR-V, it's every 105,000 miles or every 7 years, which ever comes first. Of course, the CR-V has an interference engine (if the belt breaks, the pistons will hit the valves), so it's more critical that it gets done on it.

The 2.3L and 2.5L Ranger engines are non-interference, so nothing will get damaged if the belt breaks. Murphy's Law says it will break at the most inconvenient time though.

I looked through a 1997 manual and it says to "inspect" the belt at 120,000 miles. I would replace at 100,000 mile intervals.
I remember back in the old days when belts weren't nearly as advanced, the timing belts were replaced at 60,000 miles.

There are some little rubber plugs in the timing cover that you can pull out to inspect the belt. Do that. Time is just as important a factor as mileage on rubber wear items.

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I agree. Time is a factor also.....I would do 6 years and about 80k............

Now that I am older and wiser....I look at these things a little differently.......I have had a lot of "used" cars under my watch for the last 10 years or so....They very rarely "break down" on me......I would rather spend 2 hours on a Saturday......changing radiator hoses, serpentine belts, plugs and wires.....fluids etc..........then have the car break down on me 20 miles from home....A car broken down takes hours to get repairs done, towing etc... and sometimes you get financially hosed trying to get it fixed............Just do all the maintenance and repairs ahead of time.......go to rockauto..... order all the maintenance items for cheap .....it makes life easier.....